Migrant Workers Support

THE ISSUE

Improving the Lives & Livelihoods of Migrant Workers

Unskilled migrants depend largely on the construction sector for employment and women constitute more than one third of this work force.

Sampark’s in-depth study with migrant construction workers showed the lack of identity, access to decent employment and basic living conditions, education,health and subsidized food from PDS,pre and post-natal care. The principal employers and contractors do not know about the existence of Building and other Construction Workers Welfare Board (BOCWWB) and its welfare schemes especially designed for the construction workers.

OUR INTERVENTION

Sampark started the “Workers Resource Centre” (WRC) in Bangalore. The objective of WRC is to identify workers in the labor colony and create awareness about their rights and empower them to claim these rights.A place was created where workers could come to clear their doubts. From January 2013 to March 2016 the team reached out to 7215 people. 4903 workers were motivated to register with the KBOCWWB.

WOMEN & HEALTH

Linkages were made between workers and local PHCs. As a result most of the pregnant women are now visiting the PHCs once in a month for regular health checkups and are having their injections as per the instruction given in the ANC. They also had their deliveries in the government hospital Bangalore at free of cost. Some of the women, after the delivery were beneficiaries of a state government scheme called MadiluYojena.

FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT

The WRC team created awareness about the importance of having bank accounts, which motivated 800 workers to open bank accounts. After opening bank accounts these workers were trained on how to use the ATM cards to withdraw money. The workers who have bank accounts have benefited by keeping their money safe, earning interest and saving 1-2% of the total earned money which was spent on discounting their Account Payee cheques.

SUPPORT OF THE COLLECTIVE

Six collectives were formed which later will be converted into one big collective and registered as a trade union. Linkages were made with the Karnataka State Construction Workers Central Union. The team identified the workers who have completed one year and thus became eligible for marriage and maternity benefits. They would also receive scholarships for their children. Out of twenty three applications for scholarships six were processed and the workers received an amount of Rs 17,000 as scholarships for their children’s education and the remaining application are under process. Out of 5 workers applied for marriage benefit, two workers received Rs. 50,000 each.

DAY CARE CENTERS

Linkages were made with government schools. Six day care centers are successfully are in operation with the builder contributing towards 50% of the teacher’s salary. These centers reached out 1424 children.

LEGAL SUPPORT

As part of legal counseling, the WRC team able to mediate on 17 legal dispute cases, of which one is physical abuse dispute and the remaining 16, are wage pending cases. Out of 16 wage pending cases 13 cases are with wage pending for an amount of Rs15,55,791/- which was resolved and the workers received the amount as cheque in their names.